Report 2016-139 Recommendation Responses

Report 2016-139: California Department of Education: It Has Not Ensured That School Food Authorities Comply With the Federal Buy American Requirement (Release Date: July 2017)

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure effective oversight of the meal programs and to increase public transparency, the Legislature should require Education to track school food authorities' purchases of foreign-sourced food items and to post to its website the school food authorities that purchase foreign-sourced food items, the types of food items they purchase, and the countries of origin of the food items they purchase.

Description of Legislative Action

As of July 27, 2022, the Legislature did not take action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

As of July 27, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

As of July 27, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

The Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

New legislation has not been introduced to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

SB 730 (Chapter 571, Statutes of 2017) would have fully implemented this recommendation, but was substantially amended. As enacted, this statute requires the California Department of Education (Education) to make requirements, resources, and best practices for the Buy American provision available on its Internet website, and distribute to school food authorities guidance or regulations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Buy American provision, as updates are issued. Finally, this statute requires Education to follow federal regulations in order to fulfill its obligations regarding monitoring school food authorities' compliance with the Buy American provision.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented


Description of Legislative Action

SB 730 (Pan, Chapter 571, Statutes of 2017) would have implemented this recommendation, but was substantially amended. As enacted, this statute requires the California Department of Education to take certain actions to monitor and enforce the Buy American provision that are authorized by and conform to federal law.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Legislation Proposed But Not Enacted


All Recommendations in 2016-139